Good day to you! So I’m at it again, this personal blogging venture. It just seems to make sense for the lifestyle that I’m ultimately trying to live. It is the beginning of October 2024 and I’m technically unemployed…again. Although I enjoy having time off from work to reflect, recuperate, and relax, financially it has not been ideal as of late. That brings me to the point of “Starting Over”. Sometimes, life throws obstacles in our paths and we have no choice but to think ourselves out of the box if we want to overcome the obstacle.
When I blogged in the past, I enjoyed it, but there was little growth (I didn’t have the patience for it back then, I hope I do now.). Of course, I sometimes wonder if I had stuck with it instead of giving up where I would be now. But I have enough on my plate without the shoulda, woulda, coulda, and what-ifs. Besides that, I want to put the theory to the test of “working smarter, not harder.”. I know blogging requires work, dedication, and patience but if I do something that I find enjoyable is it really work?
As for this time around, there are specific areas that I would like to use this blog for. Those areas are my personal interests, and how those interests correlate to my love of creativity and storytelling. I want this blog to be a testament to my personal journey as I explore and navigate my way around creativity and the art of storytelling. I’m on a journey, I love creativity, and I appreciate and recognize the importance of stories so I’m attempting to tie those three components together.
~ So Where I’m At Now ~
I’m 42 years old and I’m independent, which means I don’t have a spouse or significant other to rely on. Over the past couple of days, I have been fighting the idea that I have become obsolete. That notion seems to speak the loudest to me when I, in times of much chagrin, have applied to jobs only to be overlooked, or worse, rejected. I have taken up driving for Lyft which comes in handy from time to time when I need a quick, but small, financial boost. Although I have enjoyed meeting people that I chauffeur around, it makes me uncomfortable on a deeper level. So between my lack of finances, my social-driving anxieties, and the free time that I have on my hands, I have decided to give blogging another try. Here I go!
~ WHOOP-WHOOP For Creativity!!! ~
This blog is partially dedicated to the exploration of the intriguing world of creativity because creativity fuels life. I love the fact that something, everything really, started as an imaginative idea and eventually came into physical existence. Creativity, in all forms, gets my juices flowing. Whether it’s artwork, a good book, a new trending gadget, a lamp, or a toothbrush. All of those things were inspired by someone’s creativity. Sure, the necessity and demand of an item do dictate how useful someone’s creative idea flourishes, but creativity as a whole is a pretty good gift to embrace.
I know creativity never dies, it just evolves. But then again I wonder if that’s true. Does creativity metamorphosize with time or is the concept of creativity pretty much the same since the beginning of time? The times influence creativity but the process of coming up with an idea, brainstorming, planning, developing, experimenting, and implementing are the same steps that are woven into the fabric of the creative process. People come up with new ideas every day. That’s another reason I love creativity. It never gets old. Even to the degree when people may “piggyback” off of an original idea and find ways to improve upon it. Creativity never dies, nor does it get old.
~ HOODY-HOO For Stories!!! ~
Another intended purpose of this blog is to dive into the enjoyment that comes from stories and the art of storytelling. I enjoy hearing stories but feel insecure about my ability to tell good and captivating ones. In my personal opinion, stories are important and can be very engaging. Many people have used stories to interact with others, motivate, inspire, provide direction, and prove points. Stories allow us to tap into our creative nature and concoct the most thought-provoking scenarios. Stories are fun for both the teller and the audience. I have never heard anyone say that they don’t like a good story, and the beautiful thing is everyone has a story to tell. I’m into storytelling and find it fascinating because people tend to mold an experience, or story in the making, to their unique perspective. Two people could experience the same thing, but their perspectives on the experience could differ. That intrigues me. It happens all the time during discussions and disagreements. Maybe because I’m lacking some spice in my life, that stuff excites me sometimes.
A while back I signed up for a Masterclass to hear established authors talk about storytelling and all the variables that go into telling a good story. They talked about plot and pose and they talked about character development. All that to me was very overwhelming and seemingly out of my scope of capability. (I know, that is my dreadful insecurity talking!). I liked what they had to say about the art of storytelling. The storytelling courses on Masterclass gave me some deep insights, even though I’ll probably have to revisit them in the future to remember what the details were. I just remember thinking “Wow, this is great!” as I sat there NOT taking notes. I came away from those courses realizing that storytelling is a gift but everyone can do it with time and practice.
One of the exciting, and frustrating, things about life’s journey, creativity, and storytelling is the trials and errors that are involved. The process of learning and adjusting, or tweaking as you will, can be defeating or victorious depending on where one is along the way. It can be a fun and infuriating path to be on. As far as this blog and project go, it is fraught with uncertainty and only time will tell what comes of it. I’m excited to see where this part of my journey leads and I’m happy to partake in such an adventure.